Macdonald Hotels has formed a joint venture with Albert and Tony Minshall to create a luxury hotel, golf and country club on the site of the existing Hill Valley Golf Club in Whitchurch, Shropshire.
The golf club site, which features two of Shropshire’s finest courses, designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, is to benefit from an investment of £7m and it is expected that work will commence in early 2004.
The plans will see the addition of 80 luxury bedrooms and a state-of-art leisure club and spa, as well as the refurbishment and upgrading of bedroom, function and restaurant areas in the existing clubhouse.
The leisure club, which will be branded ‘Vital‘, will include an 18m swimming pool, a gym, sauna and steam rooms, and a self-contained spa facility with treatment rooms, relaxation room and solarium.
Going forward the partners, who each have a 50% stake in the venture, will be jointly responsible for operating the club. The Minshalls will continue to manage the golfing operations, while Macdonald Hotels will assume management of the clubhouse and oversee the new development.
Commenting on the development, Patrick Dempsey, chief executive of Macdonald Hotels said, “The potential of Hill Valley is enormous. It is in a stunning location with two fantastic golf courses, and the addition of luxury bedrooms and leisure club will be a perfect complement to this. I have no doubt that we will benefit hugely from the substantial experience and knowledge of golf that our new partners bring to this venture.
“I‘m sure Hill Valley will be a popular choice with our guests and it will sit well within our portfolio. Macdonald Hotels now have several properties which feature their own golf course and these have proved to be very attractive to both our corporate and leisure customers.”
“We are really excited about the plans for Hill Valley and are confident that the development is a positive move for the club and the area, offering facilities which match the quality of the courses,” said Tony Minshall.
“Macdonald Hotels are one of the UK’s leading hotel groups and we have seen first hand the quality of their operations. We are looking forward to working with them to realise these exciting development plans and establish Hill Valley as the finest hotel, golf and country club in the area.”
Hill Valley Golf Club www.hill-valley.co.uk
Macdonald Hotels www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk